Jakarta  On Wednesday September
14 the Social Movement for Democracy (GEMA Demokrasi) called on Facebook
to take responsibility for revisions to the 2008 Electronic Information
and Transactions (UU ITE). This is because of the many internet and Facebook
social media users that have been indicted under the law.

Facebook, as an internet
technology company, has the largest number of users in Indonesia with more
than 14 percent of the country's 102 internet users using Facebook. The
social media company however has never shown any concern for Facebookers
who have been indicted under the ITE law.

Yet Facebook and its users
are both vulnerable to being indicted under the ITE law. Articles 27, 28
and 29 of the law could also make Facebook liable as the party that provides
access to information categorised as cybercrime and as the party that shares
posts by users who are charged.

GEMA Demokrasi made the call
based on based on a report by the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression
Network (SAFENET) that said since 2008 more than 200 people have been reported
to police.

They have been indicted after
expressing opinions or sharing their status in the form of written words,
photographs or videos that were deemed to have spread pornography, tarnished
the reputation of a person, insulted religion or other actions subject
to the articles under the ITE law.

In 2016 there were between
6-7 cases each month. The largest number of these cases, 53 percent, that
have been reported to police have been postings on Facebook.

GEMA Demokrasi is calling
on Facebook to be take responsibility for its users that have been reported
to the authorities and that it must urge the Ministry of Communication
and Information (Kemkominfo) and the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission
I to revise the UU ITE.

SAFENET regional coordinator
Damar Juniarto is calling on Facebook not to close its eyes to the problem
and just make profits. "I think that it's time for this technology company
to be reminded of its social responsibly for the business it's running
so that doesn't just reap profits but is also be concerned about human
rights that exist within the scope of its performance", asserted Juniarto.

[Translated by James Balowski
for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Marak
Kasus Pelanggaran ITE, Facebook Harus Bertanggung Jawab.]

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